Fertilizer-distributer.



PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

J. K. GOURDIN. FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER. APPLIOATICN FILED BEN. 15, 1905.

ZSIIEBTS-SHBET 1.

INVENTOH OHN K.GOUF? DIN ATTORNEYS No. 813,881. PATENTED FEB.27, 1906.

. J. K. GOURDIN.

FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTBR.

APPLICATION 1-11.21) 8321216, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

K lNVENTOH JOHN KGQUR DIN A TTOHNE YS meeting faces and move 1n contactat said JOHN K. GOURDIN, OF PINEVILLE,

ONE-HALF TO ROBERT L. MON

SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF TAGUE AND ROBERT P. TUCKER,

OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTER.

No. 813,881. Specification of Application filed September 15,1905.Serial No- 278,634.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN K. GOURDIN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Pineville, in the county of Berkeley and State of SouthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFertilizer-Distributers, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is an improvement in fertilizer-distributers; and itconsists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, aswill be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of amachine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of thecrushing-rolls and the cleaners therefor. Fig. 3 is a detail sideelevation of one set of boxes for the crushing-rolls with the adjustingmeans therefor. Fig. 4 is a detail cross section of the adjustablefeedboards. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the feed-boards and itssupports. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 7 is a sideelevation thereof, partly broken away, illustrating the gearing foroperating the agitators. Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of one of theagitators. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view illustrating theconstruction of parts employed in fertilizer-distributing when nocrushing is necessary; and Fig. 10 is a detail top plan view, partsbeing broken away, of the hopper, showing the series of bottom boards.

By my invention I seek especially to provide a fertilizer-distributerfor use with cotton-seed and in the use of which the cottonseed, whichis largely used as fertilizer in Southern sections, may be crushed.

The machine as shown comprises the main frame F, to the side bars ofwhich is j ournaled in suitable bearings the axle A, carrying thetraction-wheels W, which may be clutched thereto at T, as shown in Fig.6. To this axle A within the frame F is secured the crushing-roller O,which meshes with the opposite roller C. These rollers are alike, arecorrugated longitudinally, and mesh at their faces, so they will crushthe seed as it is passed between them. The corrugations U of the rollersO'and C (see Fig. 2) are gradual, the depth of the corrugations beingcompara- Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 27', 1906. v

tively shallow relative to the width of same, so that between the ridgesof the corrugations the curvature is very gradual in order to facilitatethe thorough cleaning of the corrugations by the cleaning-blades G andG, presently described. The rollers C C are supported on the shafts A A,and the shafts A and A are mounted in boxes 6, whose bolts M passthrough slotted openings in the side bars of the frame F, so the boxesI) can be adjusted toward and from each other, setscrews N, turningthrough the upturned flanges P of the base-plate P for the boxes I),being provided for operating the boxes I) in securing the desiredadjustment. As best shown in Fig. 3, the boxes 5 are mounted on thisbase-plate P, which forms a convenient rail on which the boxes may beadjusted toward and from each other by means of the set-screws I asshown in Fig. 3.

The scrapers G G are alike and are similarly operated. They preferablycomprise the spring-plates G or G, which are curved between their freeedges, where they engage the corrugated rollers, and their oppositeedges, where they are secured to saddles H, the latter being pivoted atH and projecting below the pivot, forming a crank-like support for thescraping or cleaning blades G G, and spring devices engaging with therocking saddles H operate to press the free edges of the spring-blades Gand G against the corrugated rollers. As shown, the spring devicescomprise a coil-spring S, operating, through connecting rods and linksat S, upon the rocking saddles H to actuate the scraping blades intoengagement with the corrugated rollers O and C.

It will be noticed that in operation as the corrugated rollers areturned the free edges of the scraping-blades will be caused to traversethe curves of the corrugations and will efiiciently clean the crushedmaterial from the corrugated rollers, leaving the latter clean at alltimes, thus greatly facilitating the crushing operation, as will beunderstood by those experienced in handling this class of fertilizers.

A hopper B is provided over the corrugated rollers, and it is preferredto discharge the cotton-seed to the rollers about their up per portionsor crown and separately to the opposing rollers. To this end I provide afeed device J above and intermediate the axis of the rollers O and C andhaving in clined feed-boards a and a, which diverge from the apex a ofthe feed device J and discharge at their lower free edges to the upperportions of their respective corrugated rollers. (See Fig. 1 of thedrawings.) These feed-boards a and a are slotted at Y for theirsecuring-bolts 11, so they may be adjusted to set their lower deliveryedges nearer to or farther from their respective corrugated rollers tovary the feed. As shown, I use the same bolts 0 for the oppositefeed-boards 0. and a, the construction and operation of this featurebeing best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. Agitators D and D,mounted in boxes I and operated by gearing K, KI O, 0 (see Fig. 7) fromtheir respective corrugated rollers operate above the delivery edges ofthe feed-boards and prevent any clogging of the material within thehopper-B. I also provide the hopper B with a series of adjustable bottomboards R and R, arranged in rear and front of the feed device J, theplurality of boards R and R being provided side by side ranging fromside to side of the hopper and the bottom boards being movablelongitudinally toward and from the feed device, so the bottom boards maybe adjusted to control the amount of material discharged to thecorrugated rollers in the operation of the invention.

While the number of boards R and R, ranging from side to side of themachine, may be varied, I prefer in practice to employ two each of saidboards R and R, as they will enable me to adjust the device for feedingthe seed to the rollers at one side or the other, or at both sides, asmay be desired.

It will be noticed that the inner edges of the bottom boards R and R arebeveled to coincide with the inclination of the feedboards a and a, andthese bottom boards R and R may be adjusted inwardly to abut thefeed-boards a and a and shut ofi the passage of seed to thecrushing-rollers. This enables me to prevent any wasting of seed whenthe machine is being used as a wagon for carrying the seed from the barntothe field. For convenience the boards R and R are provided withhandle-rings r at their outer edges.

The seat Z (see Fig. 1) rests loosely upon the hopper and may be shiftedback and forth in securing the desired balancing of the load upon theteam, the driver in practice sitting on the seat Z with his feet in theseed within the hopper. Boards Q and Q extend longitudinally beneath theframing and are hinged at their inner edges at Q about midway betweenthe side bars of the frame, so their lower edges may be adjustedoutwardly to any desired extent in order to discharge the crushedfertilizing material in furrows arranged at any desired distance apartin the use of the invention and suitable securing devices, such aschains Q (see Figs. 1 and 6,) being provided for holding the boards Qand Q at any desired inclination.

Below the sliding bottom boards R R, which form a false bottom for thehopper, I provide the fixed bottom boards L, which extend at their inneredges adjacent to the front and rear corrugated rollers and are providedat such edges with flexible valve-plates L, which may be of leather,rubber belting, or other suitable material, and press against thecorrugated rollers, operating to prevent the discharge to the ground ofany uncrushed seed that may be passed in front or rear of the front andrear crushing-rollers.

In using the machine with fertilizers that do not need to be crushed theconstruction shown in Fig. 9 may be employed, in which the rollers donot operate in contact in such manner as to crush the fertilizer, butmove sufficiently close together to avoid the too free discharge of thematerial. These rollers are corrugated, as previously described, andpivoted spring-actuated scraping-blades o erate in connection therewith.It may ffe desired in some instances to modify the construction of thescraping-blades and their actuating-springs, which may be effected bythe particular construction of said devices, as shown in Fig. 9 of thedrawings.

It will be understood from the drawings and foregoing description thatthe rollers, corrugated as described, operate to crush the seeds, alsoas a force-feed delivering material positively from the machine as itproceeds when the different parts are in feeding position.

An important result following from the construction of the rollers asdescribed is that thereby I secure an even and uniform distribution ofthe fertilizing material as it is discharged from the machine, therollers operating when the material is properly fed thereto todistribute the fertilizing material evenly and uniformly as the machineproceeds.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination substantially as herein described, of the framing,the crushing and force-feed rollers corrugated longitudinally andmeshing at their meeting faces, and having the depth of theircorrugations comparatively shallow relative to the width of same,whereby gradual curvature is provided in the hollows of thecorrugations, bearings and op erating means for said rollers, thescrapingblades bearing at their free edges against the corrugatedrollers, the pivoted saddles sup porting said blades, the spring devicesfor actuating the blades, the hopper over the corrugated rollers, thefeed device-above the rollers and arranged intermediate the same andhaving the inclined feed-boards adjustably supported, the bottom boardsarranged 3. The combination in front and rear of the feed device andmovable toward and from the feed-boards, and the boards below themovable bottom boards and having flexible valve plates bearing againsttheir respective rollers, all substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

2. The combination substantially as herein described, of corrugatedrollers meshing at their meeting faces and having the depths of theircorrugations comparatively shallow relative to the width of the same,whereby a gradual curvature of the hollows of the corrugations issecured, and scraping-blades operating at their free edges in contactwith their respective corrugated rollers, substantially as set forth.

with the corrugated rollers, of the scraping blades bearing at theirfree edges in contact with their respective rollers, the rocking saddlesto which said blades are secured and springs operating upon the rockingsaddles to press the blades against their rollers, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination of the hopper, the corrugated rollers meshing attheir meeting faces, the feed device above the rollers and having theinclined feed-board discharging at their lower edges to their respectiverollers, and the bottom boards movable toward and from their respectivefeed-boards whereby to vary or shut off the feed, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination in a fertilizer-distributer with the hopper, and thefeed-rollers, of movable bottom boards whereby to shutv off or regulatethe feed, and boards below said movable bottom boards and provided attheir inner edges with yielding devices bearing against the rollers,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the corrugated rollers meshing at their meetingfaces, the feed device above said rollers and having inclinedfeed-boards discharging to their respective rollers, spring-actuatedscraper-blades hearing against the rollers, the bottom board movabletoward and from the inclined feedboards, whereby to shut ofi or regulatethe feed, said boards being arranged in series side by side, the boardsbelow the movable bottom boards and having at their inner edges yieldingdevices bearing against their respective rollers, the pivoted boardsextending longitudinally beneath the corrugated rollers, and means foradjusting the angle of said boards, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the hopper, the corrugated rollers, the feeddevice above the corrugated rollers, the boards forming a false bottomfor the hopper and movable toward and from the feed device, the boardsbelow the false-bottom boards and provided at their inner edges withyielding devices bearing against the corrugated rollers, andthe scrapersbelow the latter boards and bearing against the rollers, substantiallyas set forth.

8. The combination With the framing, the hopper and the corrugatedrollers meshing at their meeting faces, of the feed device above thecorrugated rollers and provided with inclined feed-boards delivering attheir lower edges to their respective rollers and adjustable toward andfrom said rollers, and the bottom boards movable in the hopper towardand from the feed-boards, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with the framing, the hopper and the corrugatedrollers, of a series of boards arranged side by side and movablelongitudinally with relation to the corrugated rollers, whereby tocontrol the feed of material thereto substantially as set forth. JOHN K.GOURDIN. Witnesses:

SoLoN O. KEMON, PERRY B. TURPIN.

